Ptilocaulis cf. walpersii (Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864)

Diaz, Maria Cristina, Nuttall, Marissa, Pomponi, Shirley A., Ruetzler, Klaus, Klontz, Sarah, Adams, Christi, Hickerson, Emma L. & Schmahl, G. P., 2023, An annotated and illustrated identification guide to common mesophotic reef sponges (Porifera, Demospongiae, Hexactinellida, and Homoscleromorpha) inhabiting Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary and vicinities, ZooKeys 1161, pp. 1-68 : 1

Ptilocaulis cf. walpersii (Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864)

Fig. 6

Diagnostic features.

Flagelliform branching; single or multiple branches (ca. 1-2 cm wide, ≤ 50 cm height). Red to orange in color. Branches have different lengths, and they can be straight, bent, or laterally fused forming flabellate bodies. Surface rugose and porous, with flattened or rounded processes. Oscula are sparse along the side of branches, hardly visible. Branches are compressible and firm. The identification given to this specimen is based on the external morphology and observations of the live photo.

Similar species.

Ptilocaulis marquezi (with oxeas and styles) and Higginsia coralloides (with acanthose micro-oxeas added to large oxeas and styles). Ptilocaulis walpersii has only styles as spicules. The cf. is placed since the spicules could not be corroborated. Higginsia coralloides consists of shorter (≤ 10 cm height) and thicker branches (3-5 cm wide).

Distribution and abundance.

Ptilocaulis walpersii is widely distributed on shallow coral reefs throughout the Caribbean, Florida, and Bermuda (0.5-35 m); recently reported at the southern GOM, 4-20 m deep ( Ugalde et al. 2021). This is the first report from the northwestern GOM on mesophotic reefs. Common on Cuban mesophotic reefs. At FGBNMS, rare abundance and documented only at West Flower Garden Bank.

Ecology.

Coralline algae reefs.

Identification.

MCD, CA.

References.

Alvarez et al. 1998; Ugalde et al. 2021.

Figures

Figure 6. Ptilocaulis cf. walpersii, 60 m deep, Photo code SP- 01.